Improved magnetogram calibration of Solar Magnetic Field Telescope and its comparison with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager

Abstract

In this paper, we try to improve the magnetogram calibration method of the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope (SMFT). The improved calibration process fits the observed full Stokes information, using six points on the profile of Fe i 5324.18 Å line, and the analytical Stokes profiles under the Milne–Eddington atmosphere model, adopting the Levenberg–Marquardt least-squares fitting algorithm. In comparison with the linear calibration methods, which employs one point, there is a large difference in the strength of longitudinal field Bl and transverse field Bt, caused by the non-linear relationship, but the discrepancy is little in the case of inclination and azimuth. We conclude that it is better to deal with the non-linear effects in the calibration of Bl and Bt using six points. Moreover, in comparison with Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), SMFT has larger stray light and acquires less magnetic field strength. For vector magnetic fields in two sunspot regions, the magnetic field strength, inclination and azimuth angles between SMFT and HMI are roughly in agreement, with the linear fitted slopes of 0.73/0.7, 0.95/1.04 and 0.99/1.1. In the case of pores and quiet regions (Bl < 600 G), the fitted slopes of the longitudinal magnetic field strength are 0.78 and 0.87, respectively.